Webb perseveres, but isn't satisfied

Brandon Webb's stat line - one run, six hits in eight innings - indicates an easy outing Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It wasn't.

"I kind of battled there again," the Diamondbacks right-hander said. "It felt like I was falling behind a lot in the count. But I worked out of some jams, made some pitches when I had to and came out pretty much unscathed."

Webb threw 109 pitches in his longest outing since May 31. He retired the side in order only twice, and ran into trouble in the eighth, walking Andre Ethier and Russell Martin with one out. Manager Bob Melvin decided to stick with his ace.

"That was probably the toughest decision of the day, leaving him in there after he gets two guys on base," Melvin said. "But I felt like he had good enough run on his sinker."

Webb got Jeff Kent to ground into an inning-ending double play, ending his day. Webb is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA over his past three starts, but he isn't satisfied.

"It's just frustrating not to be able to put (the ball) where you want for so long," he said.

Ramping it up

From Chris Young's stolen base in the third inning to Stephen Drew's attempted inside-the-park home run (he was thrown out at the plate) to Chris Snyder's suicide squeeze bunt, the Diamondbacks had the look of a more aggressive team on the bases.

"We hit and run a little bit," Melvin said. "We ran a little bit. We did some things a little bit differently. We'll continue to when we have the opportunity."

Even in retrospect, both Melvin and Drew had no second thoughts about third-base coach Chip Hale waving Drew around third in the fourth inning. Center fielder AndruwJones threw to shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, who cut down Drew at home.

"They need to make two perfect throws," Melvin said. "I don't second-guess that at all."

Short hops

Tony Clark got the start at first base over Chad Tracy, in part because Melvin wants to use Clark more defensively than he was being used while he was with the San Diego Padres. Also, Tracy's surgically repaired knee isn't at the point that Melvin feels comfortable starting him several days in a row.

• Pitching prospect Max Scherzer returned to the mound after missing the past month because of shoulder fatigue, but his results weren't good. Scherzer, pitching for Triple-A Tucson, allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in one-third of an inning against Tacoma (Wash.) on Sunday. The Diamondbacks plan to gradually build his arm strength before he returns to starting.

• As expected, catcher Chris Snyder (bruised testicle) was activated from the disabled list and started. To make room, catcher Robby Hammock was optioned to Tucson.

• Right fielder Justin Upton took some light swings, continuing to make slow progress on his left-oblique strain. When he's ready, Upton will go on a minor-league rehab assignment. "It will be good for him to get some at-bats where he isn't grinding as hard as he was before he went on the DL," Melvin said.

• Right-hander Juan Cruz threw a bullpen session Sunday and felt fine, Melvin said. Plans call for Cruz to throw at least one more bullpen session, and Melvin said the club likely will send him on a rehab assignment.

Johnson has not lost to the Cubs. In 13 games, he is 12-0 with a 1.98 ERA. He has struck out 138 in 95 2/3 innings. Johnson has fanned Derrek Lee 13 times in 22 at-bats and Aramis Ramirez 12 times in 17 at-bats. Johnson has won his past two starts. In nine home starts, Johnson is 4-3 with a 6.43 ERA. He has given up 11 of his 15 home runs at Chase Field. . . . Harden will make his second start since Oakland traded him to Chicago in a six-player deal. In his Cubs debut July 12, he threw 5 1/3 innings, striking out 10 in a no-decision. Orlando Hudson and Tony Clark are the only Diamondbacks players who have faced Harden during the regular season.